Apparatus for feeding and aligning sheet material



Oct. 25, 1932. F. s. FARLEY 1,883,890

APPARATUS. FOR FEEDING AND ALIGNINGfiHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 23, 1931-2 Sheets-Sheet l 19 i, Z9 12 Z9 3 INVENTOR. WITNESSES QFTazzczsSFarZey,

WWW Y ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1932. s, F L Y 1,883,890

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND ALIGNING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 23. 1931 2Sheets-Sheet 2 10 FJGL 1/1 W S M FIG; I;

B 7 Z0 Z3 9 INVENTOR. WITNESSES fianc'z's SfZzrZe A TTORNEYS PatentedOct. 25, 1932 ,UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

" FRANCIS s. I'ABLEY, or maEN'roN. NEW JERSEY, AssIeNoa 'ro DANIELMANsoN SUTHERLAND, .m, or MORBISVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FORFEEDING AND ALIGNING SHEET MATERIAL Application filed January 28, 1981.Serial No. 510,690.

My invention relates to feeding and aligning sheet material, as for thepurpose of presentingit properly to trimming and cutting saws, and thelike. The invention is especially advantageous for dealing withinsulation building board, homogeneous hardwood board, paper, wood, andfiber pulp board, veneers, and other such materials; and I havehereinafter described and ex lained it with special reference to thisuse. arious advantages that can be realized through the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the descriptionhereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. I is a plan view of an apparatus convenientlyadapted for and embodying the invention.

Fig. II is a fragmentary side elevation of the sheet feeding devices ofthe machine and associated parts, several parts being in section asindicated by the line and arrows IIII in Fig. I; and

Fig. III is a fragmentary side elevation from they front of Fig. I.

In Fig. I, my feeding and aligning apparatus A} is shown arranged like atable in front of a trimming and cutting equipment 5, comprising saws 6,6, 6 driven by individual electric motors 7, 7, 7 and located betweensuitably driven entrance and exit feed roll devices 8 and 9, whichcontrol the sheet S during the action of the saws thereon. My arpparatus4 acts to assure presentation of t e sheet S to the entrance feed device8 in proper definite alignment under all circumstances.

As shown in Fig. I, my feeding and aligning table 4 comprises a stop 10for the edge of the fiber sheet S, associated with means or devices 11for sustaining the sheet and feeding it along, and concurrently pushingor pressing it against the stop 10. To minimize friction with the edgeof the sheet S, the stop 10 may consist of a series or line of uprightrolls or rollers 12, preferably with stop walls 13 between them toprevent the leading corner of the sheet S from catching and blockingagainst a roll 12. The rollers 12 are mounted on vertical axes (studs orspindles) 14 secured to the horizontal flanges of angle multiplicity of,discs 11 presents important advantages over a series of mere ordinary 60rolls, as will ap ear hereinafter. As shown in Fig. I, the discs 11 ofadjacent shafts 16 are staggered.

As shown in Fig. II, the feed discs 11 are mounted on the shafts 16between flanges 17, 5 18 suitably secured, to the shafts. Preferably,the discs 11 are of a resiliently yielding material that will adherewell by friction to a fiber sheet S. The material that I prefer for thispurpose is sponge rubber such as is 7 used for the cushion backs ofrubber stamps: it comes in sheets an inch thick from which the discs 11can easily be cut. They can be cemented or vulcanized to the flanges 17,18, or simply clamped between them and held from turning by merefriction.

In order that the sheet S may be pushed or crowded over against the stop10 as it is moved along: the latter, provision is made for a movement ofdiscs 11 toward the stop with the sheet resting on them. For theirreturn movement, these discs 11 are relieved of the sheet S, preferablyby allowing it to rest on a different set or group of the discs 11, andthis other group may also be moved toward the stop 10 while the sheet isresting on them and the first group are out of contact with the sheet.By such alternate acwhile moving them to and fro, lengthwise,

toward and from the stop 10, or by having tion, or both.

the'discs 11 eccentric to their axes of rota- As shown in Fig. III, theeccentric relation of their axes of rotation is realized byhaving thediscs 11 eccentric to the shafts 16,

rather than by mounting the shafts 16 in their bearings 19 to revolveeccentric to their own axes. The alternate action is secured by havingthe eccentric discs ll-of the two groups differently sct,preferabl vsubstantially or approximately 180 apart,so that the discs of the twogroups rise and fall in alternation. Inother words, successiveeccentrics in the general direction of feed of the material'are set 180apart. Thus the sheet S is normally engagedand supported only by theeccentrics 11 of one group, while those of the other group are out ofcontact with the sheet,except of course, for brief 2o P riods when theeccentrics of the two groups are at mid-throw together, when the sheet Srests on all of the eccentrics concurrently.

- As already intimated, the to and fro movement of the discs 11 towardand from'the lower ends are pivoted at 22 on the machine slight up anddown movement of the feedframe (Fig. II); This mounting results in ashaft 16 as it vibrates lengthwise i. e., the shaft rises on itsmovement to the left, toward l the sto 10, and is depressed as itrecedes'to the rig t, awayfrom the stop. As it travels f I and III, the;lower shaft51 1s dnven by a sprocket and chain connection 52 to theenalong, the sheet S rises and falls a distance o about half the throwof the eccentric 11. The

feed shafts 16 are driven by corresponding drive shafts 25- journaled inbearings 26 on the frame of the machine. As shown in Figs. .II and III,the drive shafts 25 carry sprocket wheels 27 which engage acommonsprocket 5 chain 28 extending around sprockets 29, 30

suitably mounted in the machine frame. The

sprocket chain 28 may be driven by an electrio motor 31 through gearing32-and a chain and sprocket connection 33' to the shaft 34 of thesprocket 30 (Figs. I and II). Intermediate idle sprockets .35 atsuitable intervals sustain the active upper mad the chain 28 inengagement with the drive shaft sprockets 27. Any suitable drivingconnection 36 may be provided betweeneach' drive shaft 25 and its feedshaft 16 to permit lonl atter, such as a flexible disc joint. As shownin Fig. II, each suchjoint 36 comprises a drum 37 fast on the driveshaft 25, and a.

. flexible disc '38 marginally connected tothe drum 37 and centrallyconnected to the shaft 16. For this purpose,- the outer margin oftudinally' by anysuitab e actuatin For this purpose, the

37 and aflan ed rim 39 fittingover andsecured to the 11m, and itscentral portion is clam ed between flanges40, 41. on the shaft 16. fdesired, these connections may alao be suitably cemented or vulcanized.The 7 disc 38 may be of any suitable-flexible material, such asthat'preferred for the discs 11, as mentioned above.

The feed shafts 16 ma means, referabl on the drive shafts 25. shown 1nFi I I, the cranks 42 on the drive shafts 25 be onging to the respectivegroups of feed shafts (i. e., the cranks 42 of successive drive shafts25 in the general direction of feed) are set 180 apart, so that the feedshafts of the respective groups move toward and from the stopinalternation. For this purpose an eccentric or crank'42is shown at theend of each drive shaft 25, with a link connection 43 to one arm of abell-crank lever 44 whose. other arm is the swinging link 20 that at 45to a bearingblock46 onthe crank 42,

and the forked lower'end of the link 43 has a universal joint connection'47 to the forked endofjtheleverarm44.

At the front of. the-table 4isa feed device for passing the sheet Salong the. cutting and trimming apparatus 5while definitely'maintainingitsalignment, consistingof cooperat- -ing pairs of feed discs 50,50, oft e same resilient character as the discs 11, concentrically mounted onshafts 51, 51. As shown in Figs.

trance feed device 8 of the cuttin and trimways 54 on the machineframe,-and an ad- {)113sting screw 55 serves to vary the pressure to"the eet matweenthe discs 50, 50 accordin thickness and character of thebe vibrated longi- The revolving discs 11 carry the-sheets along towardthe left (Figs. I and III) con tinuously. The set ofeccentrics 11 onwhich the sheet S'rests, at .any time moves only toward'the sto tinuallypus ed over against the sto 10 and brought to adefinite alignment witrespect to thewhole'apparatus; After the edge of the sheet S comes incontact with the stop gitudinal and up and down movement of the. the m gn of he dis 11 yield and de- 10. Thus the sheet S is con- I fleetsidewise, under further thrust against the stop, an amount equivalent totheir side I wise movement at each revolution. v

Having thus described myinvention, I

for feedingand aligning sheet material, comnaeaaao ward and from saidstop, and means for su portin the material out of contact with saidrolls 'uring their recessionfrom the sto 2. A aratus of the characterdescn for fee 'g and aligning sheet material, com- !Q prising'an aligninstop for the edge of the material, groups o revolving eccentric rollsfor feeding the material along'said stop, the rolls of said ups being dierently set, so that some of zie -rolls carry the material while othersare out of contact with it, and

means for vibrating said groups of rolls in alternation toward and fromsaid stop and concurrentl raising and depressing them, rolls movingtoward the'stop while supporting the material and receding while out ofcontact with it.

3,fA aratus of the character described for prising an aligningstop' fortheedge of the material, groups of revolving eccentric rolls for feedingthe material along said stop, the rolls of said groups beingdifierentlyset, so that some of the rolls carry the material while others are outof contact with it, and means for vibrating said groups of rolls inalternation toward. and from said stop, rolls moving toward the stopwhile supporting the material and receding while out of contactwith it.'4. Apparatus ofithe character described for feeding andaligningsheetmaterial, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material,revolving'eccentric rolls .for feeding the material along said stop,successive rolls in the general dlrection of feed of the material beinset 180 degrees apart, and means for vibrating the rolls toward and Ifrom said stop, the alternate rolls in alternation with the rest, sothat rolls move toward the stop while supporting the material and recedewhile out of contact with it. 5; Apparatus of the character describedfor feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop forthe edge of the material, groups of revolving feed shafts withadherent-edged eccentrics for feeding the material along said stop, theeccentrics of said groups being differently set, so that those of onegroup carry the material while those of another group are out of contactwith it, and means for vibrating the groups of feed shafts inalternation toward and from said stop, so that eccentrics move towardthe stop while supporting the material and recede while out of contactwith it.

w 6. Apparaus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheetmaterial, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material;'groups of revolving feed shafts with eccentrics for feeding thematerial along said stop, the feed shafts of said mg and aligning sheetmaterial, comgroups alternating alned the eccentricslof the respectivegroups in set 180 egrees apart; drive shafts in line with said feedshafts with actuating connections thereto rmitting longitudina movementof the eed shafts; and cranks on said drive shafts, withactuatmgconnections to said feed shafts to wibrate them lengthwise toward andfrom said stop, said cranks being set 180 degrees apart onthe driveshafts of the two groups of feed shafts, and being co-ordinated with theeccentrics to cause the latter to move toward the stop while supportingthe material and to recede while out of contact with it.

7. Ap aratus of the character described for fee ing and aligning sheetmaterial, comprising an aligning stop for the edgeof thematerial, agroup of revolving resiliently flexible eccentrics for feeding thematerial along and pushing it toward said stop,

a means for vibrating said eccentrics toward and from said stop, andmeans for supporting the material out of contact with said eccentricsduring their recession from the stop. 8. Apparatus of the characterdescribed for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising analigning stop for the edge of the material, groups of revolvingresiliently flexible eccentrics for feeding thematerial along said step,the eccentrics of said grou s being differently set, so that some of t eeccentrics carry the material while others are out of contact with it,and means for vibrating said groups of eccentrics in alternation towardand from said stop, eccentrics moving toward the stop while supportingthe material and receding while out of contact with it.

9. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheetmaterial, comprising an aligning stop for the edge of the material,groups of revolving feed shafts with flexible rubber eccentrics forfeeding the material along said stop, the eccentrics of said groupsbeing differently set, so that those of one group carry the materialwhile those of another groupare out of contact with it, and means forvibrating the groups of feed shafts in alternation toward and from saidstop, so that eccentrics move toward the sto while supporting thematerial and rece e while out of contact with it. i

10. In apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligningsheet material, the combination With an aligning stop for the edge ofthe material, of revolving feed shafts with eccentric discs thereonresiliently yielding in any axial direction, for feeding the materialalong and pushing it toward said stop.

11. In apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligningsheet material, the combination with an aligning stop :for the edge ofthe material of, revolving feed shafts with eccentric discs ofresilient,

' for vibrating said groups of rolls in alternation toward and from saidsto and for elevating the rolls moving towar the stop and depressing thereceding rolls.

13. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheetmaterial, comprising an ali material, revo ving rolls for feeding thematerial along said sto and means for vibrating the alternate ro ls inalternation toward and from said stop, and concurrently raising and deressing them.

14. paratus of the character described ing stop for the edge of the Ithem for concurrent v1 ration longitudinally toward and from said stopand up and down,

drive shafts for said feed shafts with flexible connections theretopermitting vibration of said feed shafts as aforesaid, and cranks onsaid drive shafts with actuating connections to said feed shafts tovibrate them, the cranks being set 180 degrees apart on the drive shaftsof the two grou s of feed shafts.

In testimor%ewhereof, hereunto sign my name at nton, New Jersey, this 19dayof January, 1931.

. FRANCIS S.

for feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligning stop forthe ed e of the material, groups of revolving rolls or feedin thematerial along said stop, said rolls being mounted for vi rationlongitudinally toward and from said stop, drive shafts in line with saidrolls, flexible sponge rubber disc joints connecting them to the rolls,to permit vibration of the rolls as aforesaid, while driven by theshafts, and cranks on said shafts with actuating connections to saidrolls to vibrate them.

15. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheetmaterial, comprising an aligning stop for the ed e of the material,groups 0 revolving rolls or feeding the material along said sto saidrolls bein mounted for concurrentvi ration both longitudinally towardand from said stop and also up and down, drive shafts with connectionsto said rolls permitting vibration of said rolls as aforesaid-whilerevolving with the drive shafts, and means actuated by the drive shaftsfor vibrating said groups of rolls as aforesaid, both longitudinally and7 up and down, in alternation.

Q prising an aligning stop for the ed 16. Apparatus of the characterdescribedfor feeding and aligning sheet material, comprising an aligningstop for the edge of the material, groups 0 revolving rolls or feedinthe material alon said stop, said rolls being mounted for vi rationlongitudinally toward and from said stop, drive shafts in line with saidrolls, flexible disc joints connectin them to the rolls, to permitvibration 0% the rolls as aforesaid, while driven by the shafts, andcranks on said shafts with altituating connections to said rolls tovibrate t em.

17. Apparatus of the character described for feeding and aligning sheetmaterial, comof the material, groups of revolving fee shafts [withrubber-ed ed discs thereon for feeding the material a ong said stop,bearings for

